Method and apparatus for programmable fluidic processing

US6294063A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• The Board of Regents of the University of Texas System · US

Inventors

• Frederick F. Becker · Houston, US
• Peter Gascoyne · Bellaire, US
• Xiaobo Wang · San Diego, US
• Jody Vykoukal · Houston, US
• Giovanni De Gasperis · L'Aquila, IT

Key dates

• Filing date: Feb 12, 1999
• Grant date: Sep 25, 2001
• Expiry date: Feb 12, 2019

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B01L2400/0454
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A method and apparatus for microfluidic processing by programmably manipulating a packet. A material is introduced onto a reaction surface and compartmentalized to form a packet. A position of the packet is sensed with a position sensor. A programmable manipulation force is applied to the packet at the position. The programmable manipulation force is adjustable according to packet position by a controller. The packet is programmably moved according to the programmable manipulation force along arbitrarily chosen paths.